Filing folders



Feb. 24, 1959 J. F. DUNLEAVY FILING FOLDERS Filed Fabi 13. $53

United States ylfatellt This invention relates to improvements in filing folders and more particularly to the suspension type of tiling folders wherein ahanger element is associated with the free longitudinal edge of each of two leaves of the folder with projecting end portions of each suspension element adapted to engage suitable supports from which the folders are to be movably and removably suspended.

The invention provides improvementsin the hanger elements for such folders and an improved interlocking` coaction between the hanger elements and the `folders whereby the hanger elements are more effectively maintained against accidental displacement longitudinally of the associated edges of the folders.

Filing folders of the general type to which the invention relates conventionally are made of a sheet of paper stock, or the like, folded upon itself centrally of the sheet to provide two leaves between which letters and other materials may'beassembled. Folders of the suspension variety customarilyhave the free longitudinal edge portion of each leaf folded over `and secured to the adjacent material to provide an open-ended pocket for reception of a hanger element in the form of a relatively rigid rod or bar whose opposite ends project at the opposite ends of the pocket. One of the pockets may have provision thereon for removable insertion 'of an 'identification tab or card.

' Heretofore the hanger elements for suspension type ling folders have been variously formed as a result of efforts to have them readily insertible in theA folder edge pockets and effectively retained therein against accidental longitudinal displacement out of fa `proper operative relation to the ends of the pockets. The

hanger elements ordinarily are formed of metal and there` has been a real problem involved to ensure against accidental shifting of a hanger in its pocket towardv one end or theiotherof the pocket. Probably the more effective proposal heretofore for 'solving this difficulty provides end portions which are bent to stand in olf-set relation tothe main body of l the hanger element, one end being off-set in one direction `and the other olf-set in the opposite direction.. The bend at each end' of a pocket is expected to act as a limiting abutment. Actually, however, each olf-set portion provides an .inclined surface which, in practice, serves as a cam surface on which an end edge of the pocket can easily ride to permit the oit-set end of the hanger element to enter the pocket. In other words, the olf-set ends of the hanger elements do not effectively avoid accidental longitudinal displacement of the hanger elements. Also, such an off-setting of a non-metal hanger element, such as one made of paper stock, for example, is not practicable.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a tiling folder hanger element having means thereon providing a positive inter-lock between the element and a folder pocket in which the hanger element may be inserted, with the side Walls of the pocket coacting with the hanger element to yieldingly maintain the effective- Y 2 ness of the interlock. According to the invention a long .notch is formed in the upper edge of each hanger element with a abrupt shoulder at each end of the notch for engaging the adjacent end edge of a folder pocket when thehanger element is operatively arranged in the pocket. `The resilience of the lower portions of the pocket walls enables them to yield to permit insertion of the hanger element in the pocket and to resiliently urge the element upwardly so that, when the notched portion of the element is wholly within the pocket, the outer longitudinal edge Wall of the pocket engages in the notch with the shoulders at the ends of the notch constituting abutments between which the pocket is maintained against appreciable longitudinal movement relative to the hanger element.

Another object is to provide a filing folder hangerl element which may be formed of relatively inexpensive fibrous material such as vulcanized bre stock having suitable rigidity and strength, and which may have a relatively long notch in one edge, with abrupt shoulders at opposite ends of the notch, for maintaining the hanger. element against appreciable longitudinal slip when operatively mounted within a folder edge pocket.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve the structure and operative eliciency of -suspension type ling folders and more especially to provide in such folders a more effective inter-lock between the folder and its hanger `or suspension elements.

In the accompanyingdrawing: i

Fig. l is a'perspective View of a filing folder embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of a corner portion of one of the pockets for `reception of a hanger element as illustratedin Fig. l,` and showing on a larger scale, an end'portion of a hanger element in interlocked operative position Within the pocket, a portion of the pocket wall being broken away;

Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the corner portion of the le as shown in Fig. 2, with an identification means associated therewith;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view `of the hanger element;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on line 5--5 of Fig. l on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, the main body of thefiling folder as herein illustrated may be a rectangular ,sheet of paper stock, or the like, folded along a median line at 10 to provide two generally similar folder walls or leaves 12, 14, between which papers and other materials may be arranged for filing. The free longitudinal edge portion of wall or leaf 12 is folded inward as at 16 and the infolded edge portion is adhered at 18 to the adjacent stock all along the free edge portion of wall or leaf 12, thereby to provide an open-ended `pocket 20 extending from end to end of wall or leaf 12 at the free longitudinal edge margin of the latter. Similarly, the

free, longitudinal edge portion of wall or leaf 14 is folded inward asat 22 and the infolded edge portion is adhered at 24 to the adjacent stock all along the free edge portion of wall or lea-f 14, thereby to provide an open-ended pocket 26 extending from end to end of wall or leaf 14 at the free longitudinal edge margin of the latter.

Two similar flat-strip hanger or suspension elements 28, 30 extend respectively through the pockets 20 and 26, each having length substantially greater than the length of its pocket so that end portions of the hanger elements project at opposite ends of the pockets, and each projecting end portion of the hanger elements is relatively deeply notched at 32. The end notches 32 are in the edges 'of elements 28, 30 which are toward the median fold line 10 of the folder so that the notched ends may be engaged over any suitable supporting rods or bars within a tiling cabinet, or the like, from which a number of the filing folders'mayY be suspended and be readily moved along the supporting rods or bars as may be desired.

According to the invention, each hanger or suspension element` 28, 30 has means( thereonfor interlocking coaction with its pocket whereby an operatively mounted hanger or suspension element 28, 30 is effectively maintained against accidental displacement longitudinally of its pocket. Inasmuch as the elements 28, 30 are indentical, the mentioned interlocking feature is shown in detail, and described in detail, onlyin connection with the hanger element 28.

As best seen in Fig. 4, hanger element 28,` has a long notch 34 formed in that edge which is opposite to the edge in which the end notches 32 are formed, the long notch 34 having length slightly greater than the length of pockets 20, 26. An abrupt shoulder 36 is formed at each end of notch 34 and eachshoulder serves as an abutment for limiting relative' slip between element 28 and its pocket V20 after element 28 has been operatively mounted in` its pocket.

It is a feature of mydiselosed structure that the natural formation of the pockets 20, 26 is such that the pocket walls resiliently eoact with a hanger element therein to effect and maintain my improved inter-lock. As best seen in Fig. 5, the walls of pocket 20 become spread apart when element 2S is inserted therein and have Vconverging portions 20a, 20F, adjacent to the adhered infolded edge at 18 and these converging wall portions 20a, 20h, due to the resiliency of the pocket wall material, act onthe lower edge of element 28 tending` to urge element 28 upward within pocket 20. When element 28 is being Vinserted in its pocket 20, the pocket walls yield resiliently to permit passage' of the leading end of element 28 through the pocket and, when the abutment shoulder 36 adjacent said leading end of Vthe element is beyond the end of the pocket,jthe resilience of'the converging portions of the pocket walls, acting at the under edge of element 28, tend to force element 28 upwardly until the pocket stock at the fold line 16 engages the longitudinal edge of notch 34 with the abutment shoulders 36 standing opposite the ends of the stock at said fold line. Or, if the element 28 is not moved upward by the pocket wall portions 20a, 2Gb, it may be manually moved upwardly to effect the interlock and the pocket wallV portions 20a, Z0b act at the lower edge of element 28 to maintain theinterlock during ordinary handling andl use of the foldeia My improved hangerY elements 28, 30 may b e made of any suitably rigid and strong material. They may be stamped strips of metal, or. may be formed of available plastic materials. Igreferaliyly, however, they are of relatively inexpensive. vulcanized bre stock, or the like. Inasmuch as no bends or olf-sets are required, the bre stock may be effectively employed with considerable savings as compared with metal or` plastic, andthe vul canized bre hanger elements have proven satisfactorily durable and strong.

The folder pocket 20, or both pockets, may have its inner side wall slotted at intervals in a known manner as at 20 for reception of projections 38 of insert holders 3 8 which ordinarily are folded pieces of transparent material within which an identification element may be removably mounted. The projections 38' engage between the hanger element 28 and the inner side wall of pocket 20 and introduce friction which further tends to maintain the hanger element against dropping down from its operative position in which the abutment shoulders 36 prevent relative longitudinal movement of the folder pocket and hanger element 28. t

It -is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claim, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

A filing folder comprising a single sheet of exible sheet material folded on a fold line centrally between and generally parallel with opposite end edges of the sheet to provide two generally similar folder sections joined together along said fold line, each said section having a marginal portion thereof folded over upon adjacent material Vof the section and secured thereto thereby to provide a longitudinal open-ended pocket extending from side edge to side edge of the section in general parallelism with said 'fold line, a relatively rigid hanger element in said pocket of each said `folder section, each said element having length appreciably greater than the length of its pocket` whereby the opposite end portions of each hanger element project beyond the ends of said pockets for engaging spaced supporting means between which the folder may be suspended, and each said element being generally ilat and straight with dimensions such that it may be inserted endwise within a said pocket, and the longitudinal edge of each said elementwhich is adjacent to the .folded edge of the pocket in which the element extends having a generally right-angularly formed edge notchtherein slightly longer than the pocket providing an abutment shoulder at each end of the notch, the crosssectional dimensions of each said pocket being such that portions of each said hanger element outlook of the ends of its said edge notch having cross-sectional dimensions for relatively snugly tting the cross-section of a said pocket when being inserted therein and the narrower notched portion of the element facilitating enegagement of the folded edge of the pocket in said edge notch, between .said abutment shoulders of the notch when the pocket is entirely between the said shoulders of the hanger element, each said pocket having converging wall portions,l resiliently engaging that longitudinal edge portion ofthe hanger element which is opposite said notched edge tending resiliently to move said pocket and hanger element relatively in direction to engage the folded edge of the pocket in said edge notch of the hanger element where the pocket is entirely between the said abutment shouldersk off the edge notch of the inserted hanger element.

i References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

